Mauritania: Aritz Lopez Garai set to become national team coach
Spaniard Aritz Lopez Garai will be Mauritania's next national team coach, replacing Amir Abdou after the failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations
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As Sport News Africa revealed several weeks ago, Amir Abdou's departure had been settled for some time. With Mauritania having failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the coach, who has spent weeks looking for a new job, will be officially dismissed this Friday afternoon after the executive committee meeting.
Read also: Espérance de Tunis: Amir Abdou will not be the coach
To replace him, the Mauritanian Football Federation has opted for an internal solution and will promote the U20 coach, Spaniard Artiz Lopez Garai.
Amir Abdou to file a FIFA complaint over unpaid wages?
A former player with good lower-division clubs in his own country, he has notably coached in the Spanish second tier before joining Mauritanian club FC Nouadhibou in 2023, with whom he won the national title.
He was then recruited to lead the under-twenty national team, so his appointment is no surprise, especially given the federation president Ahmed Yahya's fondness for Spanish football.
Meanwhile, Amir Abdou could take the matter to FIFA to claim his months of unpaid wages.